Backyard Chickens in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Can you keep chickens in Fayetteville?

Thinking about keeping hens in Fayetteville, Arkansas? The city's Urban Agriculture ordinance (UDC § 164.04) lets residents keep female chickens (no roosters) as part of a broader push to support local food production — with flock size scaling up on bigger lots. Here's what Peggy's Happy Chickens found when we read the actual code.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Fayetteville's Unified Development Code allows residents to keep hens (and ducks) as part of its "Urban Agriculture" provisions (Chapter 164, § 164.04). The city's official code states that it is lawful to keep fowl within city limits, but only female chickens or ducks — no roosters.

The number allowed is tiered by lot size: a base amount is permitted on small lots, with additional birds allowed as lot size increases, up to a maximum of 20 fowl on qualifying larger residential lots. The principal use of the property must be single-family residential or educational, and the animal-welfare provisions of Chapter 92 (Animals) take precedence over any conflicting language in the urban-agriculture chapter.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 20
Roosters: No
Permit required: Yes
Permit cost: $15
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Fayetteville

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Flock size: A maximum of four (4) fowl shall be allowed on lots 5,000 square feet and smaller, with one additional bird permitted for each additional increment of lot area up to a cap of 20 birds on larger residential lots, as confirmed by contemporaneous news coverage of the ordinance's passage: Up to four female chickens and ducks are now allowed on any private lot, but lots larger than 5,000 square feet may hold as many as 20 fowl, as long as the chickens and ducks are given coop space.
Sex/species restriction: Allowed fowl shall include ducks and/or female chickens only. No roosters shall be allowed.
Flight prevention: All fowl shall be a breed that cannot fly or must be wing-clipped to prevent flight.
Zoning: The principal use of the property shall be educational or single-family residential.
Coop placement: Multiple sources report coops must be kept roughly 25 feet from a neighboring home, with an additional side/rear lot-line setback (secondary sources cite ~10 ft), so keep housing away from property lines.
Code hierarchy: This section shall not supersede or invalidate any sections within Fayetteville City Code, Chapter 92 - Animals and Chapter 92 shall take precedence over any conflicting provisions of this section.
Permit: An annual permit from the city is required to keep backyard poultry, with a reported fee around $15; the permit process may include a property inspection to confirm adequate housing before birds are approved.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Fayetteville

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 7a/7b

Fayetteville sits in the Ozark highlands of Northwest Arkansas, with hot, humid summers (frequent mid-90s°F days) and cool, occasionally cold winters with hard freezes and some snow. Coops should provide good summer ventilation/shade and a draft-free, insulated area for winter cold snaps.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxCoyoteOpossum

Northwest Arkansas's mix of wooded hillsides and suburban neighborhoods means backyard flocks face pressure from raccoons and opossums at night, red-tailed hawks by day, and roaming foxes and coyotes on the urban fringe. Secure, wire-bottomed coops and covered runs are strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Cold- and heat-tolerant dual-purpose breeds do well in Fayetteville's variable Ozark climate, such as Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte, Orpington, and Australorp.

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Fayetteville

▸How many hens can I keep in Fayetteville?

Fayetteville's ordinance allows a maximum of four (4) fowl on lots 5,000 square feet and smaller, with additional birds permitted as lot size grows, up to about 20 fowl on qualifying larger residential lots, per the city's urban agriculture code and 2014 news coverage of its passage.

▸Are roosters allowed in Fayetteville?

No. The city's code specifically states Allowed fowl shall include ducks and/or female chickens only. No roosters shall be allowed.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens?

Yes — reported secondary sources indicate residents must obtain an annual city permit (around $15) to keep backyard poultry, and the city's ordinance framework ties fowl-keeping to zoning/use requirements, so check with Fayetteville's Development Services or Animal Services office before starting a flock.

▸How far must a coop be from my neighbor's house?

Commonly reported setback guidance calls for coops to be kept roughly 25 feet from a neighboring residence, with an additional side/rear lot-line setback, though property owners should confirm exact current distances with the city's planning office since separation requirements are detailed in the UDC's use-separation tables.

▸Do chickens have to be a certain breed?

The ordinance requires that All fowl shall be a breed that cannot fly or must be wing-clipped to prevent flight, so any breed is allowed as long as it's flightless or you keep its wings clipped.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Fayetteville or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 14, 2026.